Conveyer.



'PATENTBD APR. 18, 1905.

. A.'J. WEBSTER.

GONVEYER.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. so, 1897.

ns SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. 787,598. PATEN'I'ED APR. 18, 1905.

A. J. WEBSTER.

GGNVBYER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV! 30, y1897.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

ivo. remos.

UNITED STATES Patented April 1e, leo.

PATENT OEEICE.

ALFRED J WEBSTER, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO JOSEPH A. JEFFREY, OF COLUMBUS, OHIO.

\ CONVEYER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of .Letters Patent No. 787,598, dated April 18, 1905.

Application filed November 30, 1897. Serial No. 660,277.

To /LZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED J. WEBSTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Conveyers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact de- A scription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use' the same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a side View of a sufcient portion of a conveyer to illustrate the manner of applying my improvements. Fig. 2 illustrates a part of the lower run adjacent to the loading-point on a larger scale. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of part of the upper run adjacent to the d umping-point also on a larger scale. Fig. 4 is a cross-section of a conveyer. Fig. 5 is a top plan View of a part of the conveyer', showing the parts in the position occupied when discharging' the loads. Fig. 6 is a vertical section of the parts shown in Fig. 5.

A framework of any suitable character is provided, or the conveyer can be designed to be applied to frameworks or structures already erected. Hence in this respect there can be modification in any way desired. For purposes of illustration I have shown supporting-beams at B B for the lower run of conveyer, and upon these are placed suitable track-rails I. The beams B may be of wood or metal, and for the upper run similar supports are provided, as at B'. This part, as illustrated, is formed of a metallic beam, which is curved downward at B2 at points adjacent to the guiding-wheel C. The trackrails b' are also curved down to conform to the beam B2;

The conveyer consists, essentially, of a series of buckets A, arranged so as to form a substantially unbroken series, each bucket contacting approximately with those adjacent or lying very close thereto. At each side of the series of buckets there is an endless chain by which they are connected together, held in proper position, guided, and propelled.

Each chain consists of a series of links C O2, which may be of any suitable sort, although I prefer to employ a chain more or less similar to those which I have shown.- The links O' have flat straps or bars at the sides of the links C2. The links O2 have pintle-apertures at their ends. The links C have pintle-apertures which, however, are oval or flattened, as shown, and the pintle has liattened end parts, which it the correspondingly-shaped apertures in the links C. The apertures in the links O2 give prolonged wearing-surface for the rocking of the pintles when the links vibrate as to each other, and the side links are locked in such way as to prevent wearing in their short apertures.v Each bucket A is constructed as follows: It is formed with two end pieces a c, a front bottom piece a and rear bottom piece c2, and a rear top piece co3. Each bucket is secured to the chains not by hinges but-rigidly. At each end the bucket has secured to it outward-extending bars, as at D, which are rigidly secured to the chainlinks C. Preferably these links O/ are each concentric with the end of a bucket and are fastened thereto, so as to be incapable of relative motion. The links C O2 are connected by hinged pintles, so that there will be sufficient freedom of articulation; but at the same time the bucket is prevented from turning to any material degree relative to the line of the chain. From the links O2 there project downward rollers or wheels E, adapted to ride on the track-railsbb'. Each bucket is positioned relatively to the plane of the chains in a peculiar manner. The chain at each end extends practically diagonally across the bucketthat is, from one end to the opposite one in such manner as to hold the bucket with the sides a c2 converging downward and the closed top side L3 and the open top side converging upward-that is to say, the open side is held by the chains in a position inclined to the horizon when the conveyer is on a horizontal run and also in a position inclined or oblique 4to that part of the chain to which it is attached.

As the buckets move along on the lower run they are supported in such a way that they can be readily loaded through these open sides a". The closed top side (t3 of the preceding bucket serves as a chute or guide for the material. The latter, such as coal or the like, can be delivered from the hopper F or by a screw conveyer or equivalent. The closed ends (t have fenders or guide-Hanges t5 at their side edges which serve to direct the material into the open top side of each succeeding bucket. The closed corner at a of one 'bucket overlaps slightly the bottom corner of the opening of the next bucket, so as to effectually close the vertical passage-way between the buckets and .prevent the spilling of material.

The wheels() @may be of any suitable character to properly engage with the chain-links to propel and guide the conveyer.

Y The loading of the buckets will be readily understood from the drawings in connection with the above description. The unloading of the material and the delivering of it are accomplished as follows: Gr is a floor or platform along the upper run of the conveyer, having' the horizontal part g and the downwardly-curved part g' passing' around the center of the upper wheel C and extending somewhat below the horizontal plane of its shaft. At desired points along the floor g there are hoppers H and chutes H. Each hopper is provided with a gate 1 and with means for closing and opening it, as shown. These consist of one or more racks .l and pinions j, the latter being on a shaft L and carrying' an operating-wheel K. The delivery of material carried up by the buckets to one hopper or another is governed by the opening and closing of the valves. The floor G is at such distance from the corner edges of the buckets that each bucket as it goes along is adapted to serve as a scraper or flight in propelling the material along the Hoor. After the buckets leave the "lower run and as they begin to turn upward around the lower wheels, they are gradually turned somewhat relatively to a horizontal plane, and when the chains reach the vertical position the buckets have become placed so that the open sides a* are inclined in the opposite direction, as shown in the drawings. As the buckets begin to g'o around the upper wheels C they are turned still farther, and the open side ai is downward, and the side c3 is also below the center. This allows the contents of the bucket to gradually escape from it and fall upon the lioor Gr, and after this occurs the wall c3 of the bucket acts as ilight or scraper to drag the material along the floor until the hopper H is reached, into which it is desired to deliver the material. Then the buckets pass on, and as they go down the other leg of the elevator they are gradually returned to the loading' position, which they assume when they reach the lower run, and are again ready for loading.

A conveyer of this character possesses the advantage of thus having the endless series of buckets practically contacting each with the adjacent ones and each mounted on the chains, so that it can be tilted on the upper run for dumping its contents.

The wall a performs the several functions, first, of preventing any of the material bounding out of the bucket as it is being loaded from the hopper and chute at F; secondly, of serving as a chute for the next succeeding bucket and preventing the spilling of material vertically; third, of preventing the escape of the material when the bucket is on the up run, and, fourth, as a scraper or flight when the bucket is traveling above the floor G. It will be observed that the free edge of this wall or side a3 of the bucket is situated on the inside of the chain-that is to to say, it is within the loop formed by the endless conveyer-and also the portion of such wall or side that is inside the chain is arranged at an angle which is divergent to that portion of the chain immediately adjacent thereto.

l am aware of the fact that it has been lately proposed to make a conveyer of an endless series of buckets close together and rigidly secured to the carrying-chains and each having a wall projecting upward at an inclination from the line of the chain-that is, upward relative to that run of the conveyer where the loading occurs--and an upwardly-extending side, with an opening therethrough; but in the construction to which I refer the receiving-opening for the bucket had an area less than the side through which it was formed, the remaining' area of that side being closed by a partial wall extending and tightly joined to the aforesaid upwardly-projecting wallthat is to say, the side corresponding to the one herein designated by at* was not entirely open clear up to the edge of the wall r--and the result and intention were that the bucket had to be much more than merely inverted in order to effect the emptying. The contents would be retained inthe bucket along both runs of the conveyer unless extraordinary means wereinterposed for compelling them to be lifted and turned to a very unusual angle. For the purpose of thus turning them relatively large wheels and supporting-frames therefor had to be employed, projecting to points considerably above the normal central line of that run of the elevator where the unloading was to take place. In one instance within my knowledge it was proposed to support these inverting-wheels upon upwardly-prolonged trucks, which could be moved from place to place along the unloading-run of the conveyer. Itis to obviate the inconveniences experienced with constructions of that sort that 1 have devised the present mechanism. -By constructing the bucket with the plane wall c at the proper inclination and extending to the edge of the open side at the corner a7 and by making this wall a3 sufficiently rigid and IOO ^ tially closed by a plate or a wall joined at an angle to the plate a3.

The parts at a5 not only serve, as aforesaid, as fenders and guides in assisting in loading the buckets, but they also serve as braces and strengthening means for the {iight-walls a3 when they are acting as Scrapers.

The roller-links and the strap-links alternate, and if the strap-links are fastened to the buckets there is freedom of articulation for the rollers and the links which carry them, great flexibility throughout the entire chain being thus insured, and a steady carrying of the buckets.

I/Vhat I claim is- 1. In a conveyer, the combination of a chain at each side of the conveyer, a substantially endless series of buckets, each closely adjacent to those next to it, each rigidly connected to the chains, and each having a closed side co3 which projects upward at a forward inclination relative to the loading run of the chain, and an open receiving side projecting upward and backward and extending substantially entirely to the upper edge of said side, a3, whereby the material. begins to escape from the bucket immediately upon its passing the upward wheel Aof the conveyer, as at C, and whereby the said side 6 3 can serve as a flight or scraper upon the emptied material, substantially as set forth.

2. In a conveyer, the combination of the chain at each side of the conveyer, the stationary iioor, G, a substantially endless series of buckets, each rigidly connected to the chains, each having the plane side a3, which is inclined forward from the rear cornerrof the bucket when it is on the loading run ofthe conveyer, and having an open side extending from the Lipper edge of the plane side, a3, whereby each bucket can be entirelyinverted when passing along a run parallel to the loading run, and this side, a3, serve as a scraping-Hight upon the ioor, G, substantially as set forth.

3. In a conveyer, the combination of a series of box-like buckets each having 'three closed sides and closed ends and an open side, and each provided with two guide-anges opposite the open side of the next bucket, and two parallel chains at the ends of the buckets, each chain having rigid links rigidly secured to the buckets, and intermediate links provided with rollers for supporting the conveyer on a track, substantially as set forth.

4. The com bination of the series of buckets, each formed with four sides, three of said sides being closed, and the fourth open, means for connecting together the said buckets in series, and arranged to hold each with its open side upward and to the front, and means for inverting the buckets successively and bringing the open side of each to the bottom and to the front when emptying, substantially as set forth. A

5. The combination of the series of buckets, each formed with four sides inclined to the horizon, three of said sides being closed, two of the closed sides forming a bottom when the bucket is loading, the open side being at'the top and to the front when the bucket is loading and the top closed side having guide lips or iianges adjacent to the open side of the next bucket, means for iiexibly connecting together the series of buckets, and means for inverting them at points near their emptying positions, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of a series of buckets arranged to travel on a lower horizontal line and then on an upper horizontal line, each bucket being formed with two closed sides which are at the bottom when the bucket is on the lower horizontal line, and with one closed and one open side at the top, all of said sides being at an inclination to the horizontal, and two parallel chains rigidly secured to the ends of the buckets and the guide-wheels for the chains arranged substantially as set forth to -invert the buckets from their position on the lower horizontal line to their position on the upper horizontal line, substantially as described.

7. The combination with'the series of material-transporting devices, of the parallel chains at the ends thereof, each consisting of a series of roller-carrying links and intermediate links formed offlat bars or straps rigidly secured to the ends of the material-transporting devices, and the pintles having liattened ends connecting the straps or bars with the roller-links, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination with the series of material transporting devices, of the parallel i chains at the ends thereof consisting of a series of strap-links secured to the ends of the said devices, and intermediate links each provided With a .iianged wheel adapted to rest upon a track or guideway, substantially as set forth.

9. In a conveyer the combination with a seriesof material-transporting devices, of the 'chains to whichsuch devices are connected,

consisting of a series of links formed of at bars or straps which are rigidly connected to the said transporting devices, intermediate IOO IIO

links uniting the said bar or strap links, and

the pintles connecting the dierent links of the chain having attened ends connected with the strap bars or links whereby the pintles are locked thereto and prevented from turning therein, and having also prolonged wearingsurfaces between the said {iattened ends which engage with the said intermediate connectinglinks, substantially as set forth.

10. In a conveyer the combination of an endless chainand a series of buckets rigidly secured thereto, each bucket having an open side arranged obliquely to the portion of the chain to which it is secured, and a closed side a3 inclined in the direction in which the conveyer moves and having its free edge situ ated on the inner side of the conveyer, and constituting one edge of the said open side of the bucket, substantially as as set forth.

11. In a conveyer the combination of an endless chain, and a series of material-transporting devices each rigidly secured to a portion of the chain and having a side c3 arranged on the inside of the conveyer, inclined in the direction in which the conveyer moves and disposed at a divergent angle to the adjacent portion of the chainA whereby it is arranged to serve as a loading-chute on the lower run of the conveyer and as a scraper on the upper run of the conveyer', substantially as set forth.

l2. In aconveyer the combination of an endless chain and a series of material-transporting devices each rigidly secured to a portion of the chain, and each comprising a transversely-arranged piece a3 arranged on the inner side of the conveyer and inclined in the direction in which the conveyer moves and provided on its rear face With the anges c5, substantially as set forth.

13. In a conveyer the combination of a pair of parallel chains, a series of buckets arranged between the chains,each being rigidly connected thereto and formed with an open side which is disposed obliquely relative to a horizontal plane which includes both chains, and which open side is situated on the inner side of the conveyer and is open in the direction in which the conveyer moves, and with two sides which are parallel to each' other and whose edges bound the said open side of the bucket, substantially as set forth.

14. In a conveyer the combination of a pair of endless chains, means for supporting and guiding the chains, a series of buckets rigidly attached to the chains, each bucket having an open side, and aclosed side a3 arranged on the inside of the conveyer and incliningin the direction in which the conveyer moves, means for filling the buckets while on the lower run, a trough adjacent to the upper run of the conveyer and extending into immediate proximity to theguide-wheels by which the conveyer is turned into the upper run, and delivery devices leading from said trough, the said sides a3 of the buckets operating as scrapers to con- 'vey the material through the said trough, substantially as set forth.

15. In a conveyer, the combination of a bucket-carrying device with a series of buckets carried thereby and attached thereto so that the middle line of the bucket approximately corresponds with the line of the axis of the carrier and the opening of the bucket lies beyond the middle line of such carrier, a series of directionchanging devices to change the direction of travel of such buckets, a deep trough carried about one of said directionchanging devices toward which the buckets move in their ascent, said buckets adapted to receive and independently retain their loads of material while traveling in certain directions and to discharge same into said trough and push or pull their loads through and along such trough while traveling substantially parallel therewith, the bucket-carrier lying above and outside of said trough.

16. In a conveyer, the combination of a bucket-carrier with a series of buckets thereon, each bucket mounted so that the middle line of the bucket approximately corresponds with the line of the axis of the carrier and the opening of the bucket lies beyond the line of its attachment to the carrier, and shaped so as to retain its load while traveling in certain directions, a deep trough in which the buckets travel when inverted, and through which they push or pull their loads.

17. In a conveyer, the combination of a bucket-carrier with a series of buckets thereon, each bucket mounted so that the middle line of the bucket approximately corresponds with the line of the axis of the carrier and the opening of the bucket lies beyond the line of its attachment to the carrier, and shaped so as to retain its load While traveling in certan directions, a deep trough in which the buckets travel when inverted and through which they push or pull their loads, and the bucket-carrier adapted to travel above and outside of said trough.

18. In a conveyer, the combination of an endless chain-like traveling structure with a continuous series of buckets, each secured to the chain-like structure so as to approximately divide its load into equal parts on opposite sides of the axis of such traveling chain-like structure, when the latter is on its vertical run, and each of said buckets open at one side so as to freely open upwardly on the lower run lOO to receive its load and to freely open down- 20. In a conveyer, the combination of a bucket-carrying device with a series of buckets carried thereby, a series of direction-changing devices to change the direction of travel of such buckets, a trough carried about one of said direction -changing devices, toward which the buckets move in their ascent, said buckets adapted to receive and independently retain their loads of material while traveling in certain directions, andl to discharge the same against said trough and push or pull their loads through and along the bottom of such trough while traveling substantially parallel therewith, said buckets being mounted in the bucket-carrying device so as to project approximately equally on opposite sides of the line along which they are attached to the carrying device.

2l. In a conveyer, the combination of a bucket-carrier with a seriesof buckets attached thereto, and a deep trough in which the buckets run when inverted, each bucket shaped so as to retain its load of material when traveling in a certain predetermined direction and position, and to push or pull its load through the trough, or along the bottom of the same, when traveling ,in its inverted position, and a direction-changing device to invert the buckets, the buckets arranged so that they lie approximately one-half on eachside of the axis of the carrier.

2Q. In a conveyer, the combination of a bucket-carrier with a series of buckets attached thereto, and a deep trough in which. the buckets run when inverted, each bucket shaped so as to retain its load of material when traveling with its opening upward, and to push or pull its load through the trough or along the bottom of the same when traveling in its inverted position, and a direction-changing device to invert the buckets,the buckets arranged so that they lie approximately one-half on each side of the axis of the carrier.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

- ALFRED J. WEBSTER.

Witnesses:

A. D. SHAW, F. E. CoL'roN. 

